O'Neal scored 40 points and reserves Devean George and Slava
Medvedenko made key plays in the second half as the Lakers
gradually pulled away for a 117-103 victory over the New York
Knicks.

New York had a tremendous first quarter as it shot 64 percent
(14-of-22) from the field and led, 36-28. The Lakers fought
back for a 60-60 tie at halftime.

New York's largest lead was 34-19 with 1:47 left on a 3-pointer
by Mark Jackson.

In the first period, Latrell Sprewell made 6-of-11 shots and
Kurt Thomas was 5-of-7. But the Lakers closed the period on a
9-2 run.

In the third quarter, the Lakers' role players took over and
the Knicks' lack of firepower was evident. New York made just
5-of-17 shots and trailed, 88-80.

While New York was misfiring, George hit consecutive 3-pointers
that made it 84-77 with 1:37 left. The Lakers took their first
double-digit lead on a follow shot by Medvedenko -- O'Neal's
backup -- with 15 seconds left.

"I was feeling it a little bit but I wasn't as aggressive in
the offensively in the first half as I was in the second,"
George said. "I was more concerned with getting rebounds and
defending, but those fueled my success in the third and fourth
quarter and that was what really got me going today,".

"He can do that for us on a more consistent basis," added
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant. "Now he is starting to realize what
he is capable of doing (it) in game situations."

Medvedenko's shot capped a 14-4 run. Bridged by a pair of
3-pointers by Jackson, the Knicks were held without a basket
for nearly five minutes.

George matched his career high with 17 points. He also had
17 against the Toronto Raptors on December 28.

Medvedenko played just 13 minutes but scored eight points,
none bigger than his follow shot at the end of the third period.

Los Angeles' reserves outscored the Knicks' bench, 36-23.
Part of that effort was a complete domination of the paint as
the Lakers held a 58-26 advantage.

Sprewell led the Knicks with 31 points and kept the game close
by scoring seven in a row in the fourth quarter. Allan Houston
added 16 points, making just 3-of-9 shots.

Bryant overcame a slow start to finish with 18 points. His
final basket was a jumper off a crossover dribble that made it
103-93 with 4:58 left.

O'Neal dominated whatever defenders the Knicks threw at him.
Most times, Thomas drew the assignment. But Thomas, who is four
inches shorter and 100 pounds lighter than the 7-2, 350-pound
O'Neal, struggled all day.

Thomas had 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, but O'Neal shot
15-of-21 for his fourth 40-point effort of the season.

With 4:33 left, Robert Horry took a crisp pass from Bryant and
hit a wide-open 3-pointer from the left side that gave Los
Angeles a double-digit lead for good, 106-95.

Four minutes earlier, Horry was involved in a collision with
Thomas, while attempting to defend him. Horry was shaken up,
but came back shortly thereafter.

"I tried to come out and play hard and help our team get a
win," Horry said. "I had a few open looks, I took them and
that was what I was waiting for."

After Horry's clutch shot, Howard Eisley and Houston missed
three consecutive 3-pointers and the Knicks did not score
another basket until they were down 112-100 with 1:21 left.

"I think the third quarter kind of hurt us a little bit,"
Houston said. "Our shots weren't falling and Shaq started
getting the ball deep into the paint and we just didn't
shoot the same percentage in the second half like we
did in the first."